Shifting focus to unions, charter group plans teacher rally

Families for Excellent Schools, the charter school advocacy group, will hold a rally of charter teachers next Wednesday in an attempt to undermine the United Federation of Teachers' representation of public school teachers, according to several people with knowledge of the event.

The rally, which will be held in Manhattan's Foley Square, is intended to challenge the notion the UFT speaks for New York City teachers. More than 1,000 charter school teachers are expected to attend the rally to declare their support for charters, which typically are not unionized.

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FES' messaging surrounding the rally does not refer directly to the UFT or to teachers unions. Instead, it alludes only to "special interest groups" that prioritize benefits for adults over education for students.

As is typical for FES events, the rally will be attended largely by teachers from Success Academy, New York City's largest and most controversial charter network.

Unlike other charters, however, Success will not close its schools for the rally. Wednesday is a half-day for students and teachers will attend the rally after the school day ends.

Spokespeople for Success and FES confirmed the date of the rally but did not provide further comment on Wednesday.

A contingent of teachers from Achievement First, Uncommon Schools and KIPP, other large charter networks, are also expected to attend.

A spokesperson for Achievement First said a small number of teachers will attend the rally on Wednesday.

While FES and Success CEO Eva Moskowitz have recently turned their attacks on Mayor Bill de Blasio, their primary target has long been teachers unions.

One of the main criticisms that FES, Moskowitz and StudentsFirstNY lob at de Blasio is that his administration is too closely aligned with the UFT. De Blasio and his schools chancellor, Carmen Fariña, have argued that a good relationship with the union has led to productive contract updates that benefit students.

Now, in a slightly new tack, FES is turning its focus to the UFT itself.

That is a strategy shared by Moskowitz, who attacked UFT president Michael Mulgrew during a speech announcing that she will not run for mayor in 2017.

"Imagine if I ran and won," Moskowitz said last week. "One of my first conversations would be with Michael Mulgrew. Imagine how that conversation would go."

The UFT successfully derailed Moskowitz's bid for Manhattan borough president in 2005.

Moskowitz first alluded to the upcoming teacher rally during a Success staff meeting held at Citi Field this summer.

FES, which is extremely well-funded and broke state records for money spent on lobbying last year, has ramped up its advocacy efforts this fall.